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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

From a posting by Jorge R. Frank to sci.space.history:

quote:While updating my flight history spreadsheets I stumbled onto something I hadn't noticed earlier: the Soyuz TMA-5 launched to ISS last October was the 100th manned Soviet/Russian space flight, depending on how you measure.

Soyuz 32 launched with a crew but entered unmanned; vice-versa for Soyuz 34. Some people don't count one or the other, but I count both.

If correct, than Chiao flew both the 100th Soviet/Russian flight and the 100th shuttle mission.

Ben

The Russians are touting yesterday's Expedition 12 launch as the official 100th manned Russian space launch.

This does include Soyuz 18a, which failed to achieve orbit on an upper stage malfunction. But it does not include Soyuz T-10a, which exploded on the launch pad in the final seconds of the countdown forcing activation of the Launch Escape System.

Soyuz 34 was unmanned and sent as a replacement and return capsule for a crew already living in space. It does not count as a separate mission (the error he had).

Yesterday's launch of TMA-7 was the 250th time in history that human beings have soared above 100km.

This includes:USSR/Russia – 100 USA – 144 China – 1 SS1 - 3X-15 - 2

issman1

I am very surprised there was little fanfare about the 100th Russian human space launch. A tremendous achievement considering the ongoing financial woes surrounding Russia's space programme. Incidentally, William McArthur - who launched on Soyuz TMA-7 - was also a crewmember on the 100th Space Shuttle mission, STS-92.